Method and system for controlling the provision of media content to mobile stations

ABSTRACT

A media service controller controls how one or more base stations transmit media content from one or more media servers to mobile stations. The media service controller may control whether a mobile station receives media content via a unicast or a multicast connection, e.g., based on a predefined schedule and/or on whether other mobile stations served by the same base station are receiving the same media content. The media service controller may provide a content discovery service through which a first media server may determine whether other media servers are providing the same media content. The media service controller may facilitate changing a source of media content received by a mobile station, e.g., by changing the source from a first media server to a second media server when the mobile station moves from an area associated with the first media server to an area associated with the second media server.

BACKGROUND

Cellular wireless networks were developed primarily to provide voicecommunication services to mobile devices. However, wireless serviceproviders have also begun using their cellular wireless networks toprovide other types of services, such as providing streaming mediacontent that can be received by and viewed on subscribing mobiledevices. Such streaming media content may include audio and/or video,e.g., music selections, movies, or television programming.

Two general approaches have been proposed for providing streaming mediacontent to mobile devices. In one approach, the mobile devices receivestreaming media content from terrestrial or satellite broadcasts. Forexample, the DVB-H and DVB-SH specifications of the Direct VideoBroadcasting Project use this approach. However, these streaming mediabroadcasts typically use a frequency spectrum that is different fromthat of the cellular wireless network. Thus, a base station in acellular wireless network may transmit signals for a voice call in onefrequency spectrum, while a separate frequency spectrum may be used tobroadcast streaming media content to mobile devices. The use of twoseparate frequency spectra typically results in the mobile device havingtwo separate radios, one radio for receiving transmission from basestations in the cellular wireless network and another radio forreceiving streaming media broadcasts. Thus, this approach may require amore complicated mobile device.

In another approach, the streaming media content is transmitted throughthe cellular wireless network. Thus, a separate frequency spectrum isnot needed to provide streaming media content to mobile devices.Instead, the streaming media content typically originates from one ormore content servers in a core network and is backhauled through thecellular wireless network to the base stations that can then wirelesslytransmit the streaming media content. This means that the resources ofthe wireless service provider's network are used to provide both voicecommunication services and streaming media content. Examples of thisapproach are the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) and theOpen Mobile Alliance Mobile Broadcast Services Suite (OMA BCAST).

OVERVIEW

In accordance with a first principal aspect, an exemplary embodimentprovides a method for changing a source of media content received by amobile station. In accordance with the method, the media content isprovided to the mobile station from a first media server via a firstbase station. The first media server receives an indication of a newlocation of the mobile station. In response to the indication, the firstmedia sever sends to a media service controller at least one messagethat identifies the media content and the mobile station. The mediaservice controller determines that a second media server is available toprovide the media content to the mobile station. The media servicecontroller instructs a second base station to transmit the media contentfrom the second media server to the mobile station.

In a second principal aspect, an exemplary embodiment provides a methodof using a content discovery service. In accordance with the method, arequest identifying media content currently being provided in a firststream from a first media server to a mobile station is received. Aresponse is sent to the request. The response identifies a stream of themedia content that is currently being provided by a second media server.The mobile station is joined to the second stream so that the mobilestation receives the media content from the second media server.

In a third principal aspect, an exemplary embodiment provides a methodof controlling how a base station transmits media content to a mobilestation. In accordance with the method, the base station transmits themedia content to the mobile station via a unicast connection. A mediaservice controller makes a determination that the media content shouldbe multicasted to the mobile station. In response to the determination,the media service controller sends an instruction to the base station.In response to the instruction, the base station transmits the mediacontent to the mobile station via a multicast connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless telecommunications network, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of switchingtransport connections, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of switching IPpacket flows and transport connections, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of using a contentdiscovery service, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for joining a mobilestation to a stream of media content, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1. Introduction

The inventors have recognized that using a radio access network (RAN),such as a cellular wireless network, to deliver media content, such asstreaming media content, to mobile stations can create significantdemands on the RAN's resources, including air interface resources andbackhaul resources.

One way of addressing the demands on air interface resources is to usemulticast connections. For example, when multiple mobile stations arereceiving the same media content from a base station, it may be moreefficient for the base station to transmit the media content to themultiple mobile stations via a wireless multicast connection, ratherthan using wireless unicast connections to transmit the media content toeach of the mobile stations individually. On the other hand, when onlyone mobile station is receiving the media content, it may be a moreefficient use of air interface resources to transmit the media contentvia a wireless unicast connection instead of a wireless multicastconnection.

One way of addressing the demands on backhaul resources is to use localsources of media content. For example, a media server may be associatedwith one or more base stations in a particular area. However, thisapproach can cause difficulties when a mobile station moves from an areaassociated with one media server to another area associated with anothermedia server, for example, due to differences between the media contentprovided by the different media servers. Such differences may beparticularly significant for media servers that are operated bydifferent wireless service providers.

In order to manage the resources used to provide media content to mobilestations, the inventors propose the creation of a media service controlfunction. The media service control function could be embodied in one ormore network elements, such as media service controllers. Each mediaservice controller may be associated with one or more base stations andone or more media servers. As described in more detail below, a mediaservice controller may perform one or more of the following functions:(i) management of air interface resources (such as unicast, multicast,and broadcast resources) that are used to transmit media content tomobile stations, (ii) tracking of media content being provided by mediaservers, and (iii) control over the sourcing of media content receivedby a mobile station.

With respect to function (i), management of air interface resources, amedia service controller may control how one or more base stations(e.g., the base stations of a given radio access network) transmit mediacontent from one or more media servers to mobile stations. For example,the media service controller may control whether a mobile stationreceives content via a unicast connection or via a multicast connectionof a base station. The determination may be based on how many mobilestations served by the same base station are receiving the same mediacontent, e.g., a given “media channel” of streaming media content. Ifonly one mobile station is receiving the media channel, then a unicastconnection may be used. However, additional mobile stations maysubsequently begin receiving the media channel, thereby using additionalunicast connections of the base station. If the number of mobilestations receiving the same media channel becomes sufficiently high, themedia service controller may instruct the base station to transmit themedia channel to the mobile stations via a multicast connection insteadof via multiple unicast connections. If, thereafter, the number ofmobile stations receiving the media channel becomes sufficiently low,the media service controller may instruct the base station to transmitthe media channel via one or more unicast connections instead of via themulticast connection.

Alternatively, the determination of whether to use a unicast connectionor a multicast connection could be based on other factors. For example,a media service controller may pre-allocate multicast connections formedia channels in accordance with a schedule. This approach may beadvantageous when a particular program, such as a sporting event, islikely to be requested by a large number of mobile stations.

With respect to function (ii), tracking of media content, a mediaservice controller may keep track of what media content is beingprovided by the one or more media servers with which the media servicecontroller is associated. To perform this tracking function, the mediaservice controller may receive periodic updates from its associatedmedia servers and/or base stations. Alternatively, or additionally, themedia service controller may send queries to its associated mediaservers and/or base stations. The information the media servicecontroller obtains in this way may include, for each associated mediaserver, an identification of each instance of media content currentlybeing provided by the media server, an identification of each basestation receiving each instance of media content, and whether unicast ormulticast connections are being used for each instance of media content.The instance of media content could be, for example, a packet streamthat provides the media content progressively. In that case, the mediaservice controller may also be able to determine a current position inthe packet stream, i.e., how much of the media content the media serverhas transmitted (or how much has been received).

A media service controller may keep track of media content in this wayin order to support a content discovery service. A network element mayuse the content discovery service to determine what media content isavailable from the media servers associated with the media servicecontroller. For example, a requesting media server that is notassociated with the media service controller may be able to query themedia service controller to determine whether any of its associatedmedia servers are currently providing the same media content as therequesting media server. As described in more detail below, this contentdiscovery service may be used to facilitate changing a source of mediacontent received by a mobile station as the mobile station moves fromone area to another.

With respect to function (iii), control over the sourcing of mediacontent received by a mobile station, a media service controller maycontrol which media server provides the media content to the mobilestation. For example, the media service controller may switch from afirst media server to a second media server when the mobile stationmoves from an area associated with the first media server to an areaassociated with the second media server. The transfer may be initiatedby the first media server, for example, in response to the first mediaserver receiving an indication of a new location of the mobile station.The new location may indicate to the first media server that the mobilestation has moved out of (or is likely to move out of) the areaassociated with the first media server. For example, the new locationmay indicate that the mobile station has undergone a handoff (or islikely to undergo a handoff) from a first base station in the firstmedia server's area to a second base station outside of the first mediaserver's area.

In response to the indication, the first media server may use thecontent discovery service provided by the media service controller todetermine whether any media server in the mobile station's new area isavailable to provide the media content that the first media server iscurrently providing to the mobile station. In response, the mediaservice controller may determine that a second media server is currentlyproviding, or would be able to provide, the same or similar mediacontent via the second base station (i.e., the base station associatedwith the mobile station's new location). The media service controllermay then respond with an identification of this media content beingprovided by the second media server. The identification could be, forexample, in the form of a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID).

Based on this response, the first media server may send a join requestto the media service controller requesting that the mobile station bejoined to the identified instance of media content. If the media servicecontroller determines that the mobile station is capable of beingjoined, the media service controller may send an acceptance message tothe first media server and may instruct the second base station totransmit the media content from the second media server to the mobilestation. The second base station may then begin transmitting the mediacontent from the second media server to the mobile station, e.g., via amulticast connection of the second base station. In response to theacceptance message, the first media server may stop sending the mediacontent to the mobile station. If the mobile station detects a contentgap between the media content provided by the first media server and themedia content provided by the second media server, the mobile stationmay send a retransmission request to the first media server. In responseto the retransmission request, the first media server may send mediacontent that males up for the content gap, e.g., in a synchronizationstream transmitted to the mobile station via a unicast connection of thesecond base station.

2. Exemplary Network Architecture

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless telecommunications network 10,in which a mobile station 12 is able to communicate with base station 14and/or base station 16 (e.g., depending on the location of mobilestation 12) via an air interface. Mobile station 12 could be a wirelesstelephone, wireless personal digital assistant (PDA),wirelessly-equipped laptop computer, or other type of wirelesscommunication device. The air interface communications between mobilestation 12 and base stations 14 and 16 may be in accordance with aprotocol, such as cdma2000, GSM/GPRS, UMTS, IEEE 802.16 (“WiMAX”), orother wireless communications protocol.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, base station 14 is connected to aradio access network (RAN) 18, and base station 16 is connected to RAN20. Although FIG. 1 shows RAN 18 and RAN 20 each with only one basestation, it is to be understood that RAN 18 and/or RAN 20 could beconnected to a plurality of base stations. RAN 18 and RAN 20 might serveeither separate or overlapping geographic areas. In addition, RAN 18 andRAN 20 could be operated by either the same wireless service provider orby different wireless service providers. In the example illustrated inFIG. 1, base station 14, connected to RAN 18, and base station 16,connected to RAN 20 serve different geographic areas. Thus, mobilestation 12 may communicate with base station 14, via an air interface22, when mobile station 12 is located in an area served by base station14, and mobile station 12 may communicate with base station 16, via anair interface 24, when mobile station 12 is located in an area served bybase station 16.

RANs 18 and 20 may provide access to other networks, such as wide areanetwork 26. Wide area network 26 could be a packet-switched network thatcarries data in the form of packets. The data in each packet couldcorrespond to voice, audio, video, or other type of content. In anexemplary embodiment, each packet includes a packet payload thatcontains the data and a packet header. The packet header may includevarious parameters that facilitate the routing and proper handling ofthe packet, e.g., in accordance with the Internet Protocol (IP), UserDatagram Protocol (UDP), and/or Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).Thus, the packet header may include an IP address that corresponds tothe source address of the packet, an IP address that corresponds to thedestination address of the packet, as well as source and destinationport numbers.

RANs 18 and 20 may be communicatively coupled to wide area network 26via gateways 28 and 30. The configuration of gateways 28 and 30 maydepend on the type of air interface communications supported by RANs 18and 20. For example, in the case that RANs 18 and 20 support IEEE 802.16protocols, gateways 28 and 30 may each be an access service networkgateway (ASN-GW), and RANs 18 and 20 may each be an access servicenetwork (ASN). In the case that RANs 18 and 20 support cdma2000protocols, gateways 28 and 30 may each be a packet data serving node(PDSN), and RANs 18 and 20 may include a respective base stationcontroller (BSC) and packet control function (PCF). In some cases, RANs18 and 20 may support different air interface protocols. For example, ifmobile station 12 has multi-mode capability, mobile station 12 maycommunicate using one air interface protocol when served by RAN 18 andmay communicate using a different air interface protocol when served byRAN 20.

Network 10 may enable mobile station 12 to communicate with other mobilestations, with landline stations, and with various types of servers. Forexample, network may include media servers 32 and 34 with which mobilestation 12 may communicate. Media servers 32 and 34 may be configured toprovide media content to mobile stations, such as mobile station 12.Such media content may include audio and/or video content, such as musicselections, movies, or television programming. Media servers 32 and 34may provide their media content progressively in either a real-time ornon real-time format.

In a real-time or “streaming” approach, a media server may transmitmedia content as a stream of packets, with each packet corresponding toa particular position in a time sequence. Such real-time communicationof media content may make use of protocols such as the Real TimeStreaming Protocol (RTSP), the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), andthe Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP). Relevant aspects ofthese protocols are described in the following documents, which areincorporated herein by reference: H. Schulzrinne et al., “Real TimeStreaming Protocol (RTSP),” Request for Comments 2326, April 1998; H.Schulzrinne et al., “RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real-TimeApplications,” Request for Comments 3550, July 2003; J. Rey et al., “RTPRetransmission Payload Format,” Request for Comments 4588, July 2006;and T. Einarsson et al., “Multiple aggregated control URIs for RTSP,”Internet Draft, draft-einarsson-mmusic-rtsp-macuri-01, Dec. 21, 2006.

In a non real-time approach, a media server may transmit media contentas a progressive download. Such progressive downloading may make use ofprotocols such as the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File TransferProtocol (FTP), and/or BitTorrent.

As shown in FIG. 1, media servers 32 and 34 could be connected to widearea network 26. In that configuration, the media content provided bymedia servers 32 and 34 would be carried through wide area network 26 inthe form of packets, which would be delivered to a mobile station via aRAN. However, media servers and 32 and 34 could be located differently.For example, a media server could be connected to a RAN or to a basestation, so as to provide media content to a mobile station via a localconnection that does not go through wide area network 26.

Media servers 32 and 34 may each be associated with a particulargeographic area, RAN, base station, or wireless service provider. Forexample, media server 32 may be associated with RAN 18, and media server34 may be associated with RAN 20. With these associations, media server32 may be used as a preferred source of media content when mobilestation 12 is being served by RAN 18, and media server 34 may be used asa preferred source of media content when mobile station 12 is beingserved by RAN 20. Although FIG. 1 shows only two media servers, it is tobe understood that network 10 may include a greater or fewer number ofmedia servers. For example, a plurality of media servers may beassociated with RAN 18, and a plurality of media servers may beassociated with RAN 20.

Network 10 may also include media service controllers 36 and 38, whichmay support or control the provision of media content from media serversto mobile stations. Media service controllers 36 and 38 may each beassociated with a particular geographic area, RAN, base station,wireless service provider, media server, or group of media servers. Inan exemplary embodiment, media server 32 and media service controller 36are associated with RAN 18, so that media service controller 36 controlsthe provision of media content from media server 32 to mobile stationsserved by RAN 18, and media server 34 and media service controller 38are associated with RAN 20, so that media service controller 38 controlsthe provision of media content from media server 34 to mobile stationsserved by RAN 20. In an exemplary embodiment, communications to and frommedia service controllers 36 and 38 use the Message Primitives Formatand Transport Protocol described in “WiMAX Forum Network Architecture,”Stage 3, Release 1, Version 1.2, Jan. 11, 2008, which is incorporatedherein by reference. However, other communication protocols could beused. Exemplary functions that may be provided by media servicecontrollers 36 and 38 are described in more detail below.

As shown in FIG. 1, media service controllers 36 and 38 could beconnected to wide area network 26. However, media service controllers 36and 38 could be located differently. In addition, although FIG. 1 showstwo media service controllers, network 10 may include a greater or fewernumber. For example, one media service controller may control theprovision of media content from both media servers 32 and 34 throughboth RANs 18 and 20.

3. Exemplary Methods for Changing a Mobile Station's Connection to aBase Station

One function of a media service controller may be controlling howunicast, multicast, and broadcast resources of one or more base stationsare used to transmit media content to mobile stations. For purposes ofillustrating this function, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate examples in which abase station (BS), such as base station 16, communicates with asubscriber station (SS), such as mobile station 12, using IEEE 802.16protocols.

In accordance with IEEE 802.16 protocols, a base station may transmitpackets to a mobile station using a unicast, multicast, or broadcasttransport connection. Packets transmitted over a unicast transportconnection are received by only one mobile station. Packets transmittedover a multicast transport connection are received by multiple mobilestations. Packets transmitted over a broadcast transport connection arereceived by all of the mobile stations being served by the base station.

A packet classifier in the base station maps packets to transportconnections based, for example, on information contained in the packetheaders. For example, when a base station receives a packet with adestination IP address that corresponds to a mobile station, the packetclassifier may map that packet to a transport connection that goes tothat mobile station. As described in more detail below, the transportconnections and packet classifiers used by a base station may becontrolled by a media service controller. More particularly, a mediaservice controller may send instructions to a base station that causethe base station to change which transport connections and/or packetclassifiers are used to convey media content to mobile stations.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which a media service controllerinstructs a base station to change a mobile station's connection from aunicast transport connection to a multicast transport connection. Theexample begins with the base station (BS) transmitting IP Flow A viaunicast transport connection (TI) to the subscriber station (SS), asindicated by configuration 100. With reference to FIG. 1, the basestation could be base station 14, the subscriber station could be mobilestation 12, and IP Flow A could be a flow of packets from media server32 containing media content, such as audio or video content. Thus, inconfiguration 100, an initial packet classifier in the base station mapsthe packets in IP Flow A to transport connection T1 based, for example,on the source and/or destination IP addresses in the headers of thepackets.

At some point, the base station receives a multicasting instruction froma media service controller (e.g., from media service controller 36) thatinstructs the base station to use a multicast transport connection totransmit the media content. The media service controller may send themulticasting instruction in order to implement a schedule (e.g.,multicast transport connections may be pre-allocated for certain mediacontent for certain times and/or areas). Alternatively, the mediaservice controller may send the multicasting instruction in response toa determination that a sufficient number of mobile stations being servedby the mobile station are receiving the same media content. The mediaservice controller may determine this based on notifications sent by themedia server providing the media content or by periodically querying themedia server.

In response to the multicasting instruction, the base station sets upand activates a multicast transport connection (T2) to the subscriberstation, as indicated by configuration 102. The base station alsocreates an additional packet classifier that maps the packets in IP FlowA to transport connection T2. Thus, there may be a transitional periodduring which packets from IP Flow A are being mapped to transportconnection T2 but packets from IP Flow A that were mapped to transportconnection T1 are still being transmitted to the subscriber station, asindicated by configuration 104. When transmission of the packets mappedto transport connection T1 is complete, the base station may remove theinitial packet classifier and may deactivate transport connection T1, asindicated by configuration 106.

In this way, a mobile station receiving media content via a unicastconnection may be migrated to a multicast connection when the multicastconnection is deemed more efficient (e.g., when other mobile stationsare receiving the same media content). Subsequently, a unicastconnection may be deemed more efficient, for example, because the othermobile stations have stopped receiving the media content. When thatsituation occurs, the media service controller may send a unicastinginstruction to the base station. In response, the base station maymigrate the mobile station from the multicast connection to a unicastconnection.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which a media service controllerinstructs a base station to change a mobile station's connection from aunicast transport connection to a multicast transport connection andalso to change the source of the media content received by the mobilestation. The example begins with the base station (BS) transmitting IPFlow A via unicast transport connection Ti to the subscriber station(SS), as indicated by configuration 200. While the base station istransmitting IP Flow A to the subscriber station via transportconnection T1, the base station may also be transmitting IP Flow B toother subscriber stations via a multicast transport connection (T2).With reference to FIG. 1, the base station could be base station 16, thesubscriber station could be mobile station 12, IP Flow A could be a flowof packets from media server 32 containing media content (e.g., audio orvideo content) and IP Flow B could be a flow of packets from mediaserver 34 containing the same or similar media content. Thus, inconfiguration 200, a first packet classifier in the base station mapsthe packets in IP Flow A to transport connection T1, and a second packetclassifier in the base station maps the packets in IP Flow B totransport connection T2.

At some point, the base station receives a join instruction from a mediaservice controller (e.g., from media service controller 38) thatinstructs the base station to join the subscriber station to IP Flow Bbeing transmitted over transport connection T2. The media servicecontroller may send the join instruction because IP Flow B may originatefrom a preferred source of media content. For example, mobile station 12may have moved from base station 14, where media server 32 transmittingIP Flow A is a preferred source of media content, to base station 16,where media server 34 transmitting IP Flow B is a preferred source ofmedia content. These preferences may result from different media serversbeing associated with different base stations, e.g., based on geographicproximity, different wireless service providers, or other factors.

In response to the join instruction, the base station may communicatewith the subscriber station to establish a packet header suppression(PHS) rule for IP Flow B, as indicated by configuration 202. The PHSrule may associate a packet header suppression index with one or moreparameters in the packet headers in IP Flow A, such as source IP addressand/or destination IP address.

Once the PHS rule has been established, the base station may join thesubscriber station to transport connection T2 and may associate the PHSrule with the second packet classifier. As a result, the second packetclassifier maps the packets in IP Flow B to transport connection T2, andthe PHS rule is applied to the packets. At this stage, the subscriberstation receives IP Flow B (in packet-header suppressed form) viatransport connection T2 and may continue to receive IP Flow A overtransport connection T1, as indicated by configuration 204.

In accordance with the PHS rule, the subscriber station may generatereconstructed packets from the packet-header suppressed packets in IPFlow B by replacing the packet header suppression index with itsassociated packet header parameters from IP Flow A. In this way, thepackets that the subscriber station receives from IP Flow B may appearto be part of IP Flow A. Further, because the subscriber station maystill be receiving packets from IP Flow A over transport connection T1,the subscriber station may detect duplicate packets that may appear tobe part of IP Flow A. In that case, the media client in the subscriberstation that processes the media content contained in the packets maysimply disregard the duplicate packets.

At some point, IP Flow A may stop, in which case the base station maydeactivate transport connection T1, as indicated by configuration 206.The subscriber station would then receive the media content only throughIP Flow B. However, because of the PHS rule, the packets in IP Flow Bmay appear to be part of IP Flow A. Thus, the origin of the mediacontent received by the subscriber station may be changed in a mannerthat appears seamless to the subscriber station.

Nonetheless, there may be differences between the media content providedin IP Flow A and the media content provided in IP Flow B. For example,in the case of a television program, there may be a slight timedifference between the audio/video content contained in IP Flow A andthe audio/video content contained in IP Flow B. If IP Flow B is behindIP Flow A, then IP Flow B may provide media content that the subscriberstation already received from IP Flow A. To address this issue (until IPFlow A stops), the subscriber station may simply disregard duplicatepackets. However, if IP Flow B is ahead of IP Flow A, the subscriberstation may detect a content gap when IP Flow A stops. To make up forthe content gap, a unicast transport connection may be activatedtemporarily to transmit a stream of synchronization packets to thesubscriber station. The synchronization packets may contain the mediacontent needed to fill in the content gap. The synchronization packetscould be sent automatically or in response to a retransmission requestfrom the subscriber station.

4. Exemplary Methods for Changing a Source of Media Content Received bya Mobile Station

As noted above for FIG. 3, the source of media content received by amobile station may change when the mobile station moves from one basestation to another. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an example of this processin more detail. FIG. 4 illustrates a first phase of the process, inwhich a first media server that initially provides media content to themobile station via a first base station determines, by using a mediaservice controller's content discovery service, that a second mediaserver is available to provide the media content to the mobile stationvia a second base station. FIG. 5 illustrates a second phase of thisprocess, in which the mobile station is joined to a multicast connectionof the second base station that is already being used to transmit themedia content from the second media server. FIGS. 4 and 5 are describedwith reference to wireless telecommunications network 10, as illustratedin FIG. 1. It is to be understood, however, that other networkarchitectures could be used. Further, although FIGS. 4 and 5 aredirected to an example in which the media content is streamed (i.e.,provided in a real-time format), a similar process could be used whenthe media content is provided in other ways (e.g., in a progressivedownload).

With reference FIG. 4, the process may begin with a first media server(e.g., media server 32) streaming media content to a mobile station(e.g., mobile station 12) via a first base station (e.g., via basestation 14), as indicated by block 300. At some point, the mobilestation is handed off to a second base station and begins receiving themedia content from the first media server via a unicast connection ofthe second base station (e.g., base station 16), as indicated by block302. The handoff may occur as a result of the mobile station moving froman area served by the first base station to an area served by the secondbase station.

Because of this handoff, the mobile station provides an indication ofits new location to the first media server, as indicated by block 304.The mobile station may provide this indication either before or afterthe handoff has been completed. In an exemplary embodiment, the mobilestation provides the location indication by sending the first mediaserver a source description packet containing a “LOC” (geographic userlocation) item, in accordance with the Real-time Transport ControlProtocol (RTCP). It is to be understood, however, that the mobilestation could use other methods to send its location to the first mediaserver.

The information provided in the mobile station's location indicationcould include an identifier of the second base station and/or anidentifier of the wireless service provider operating the second basestation. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile station couldindicate its location in terms of latitude/longitude or in other ways.

In response to the new location indicated by the mobile station, thefirst media server identifies a media service controller that isassociated with the second base station, as indicated by block 306. Toidentify the media service controller associated with the second basestation, the first media server may perform a look-up in either aninternal database or an external database (e.g., a DNS server), usingthe location information provided by the mobile station.

The first media server then queries the identified media servicecontroller (e.g., media service controller 38) to determine whetheranother media server is streaming the same media content via the secondbase station, as indicated by block 308. The query may include (i) anidentification of the media content that the first media server iscurrently providing to the mobile station and (ii) an identification ofthe second base station. The query may also include other information.

In response to this query, the media service controller determines thata second media server (e.g., media server 34) is currently streaming thesame media content via a multicast connection of the second basestation, as indicated by block 310. The media service controller thensends a response that includes an identifier, such as a UniversallyUnique Identifier (UUID), that identifies the stream being transmittedvia the multicast connection, as indicated by block 312. The responsefrom the media service controller may also include other information,such as the second media server's position in the stream.

Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the response from the mediaservice controller indicates an opportunity to join the mobile stationto a stream that is already providing the media content via a multicastconnection. The process for joining the mobile station is described inmore detail below with reference to FIG. 5. However, it is to beunderstood that the media service controller may respond with a UUIDeven when the second base station is not currently transmitting themedia content via a multicast connection. For example, it may besufficient when only a unicast connection of the second base station isbeing used or when the second base station is not currently transmittingthe media content at all but the media content is, nonetheless,available from the second media server.

Furthermore, in some cases, the second media server may not be able toprovide the same media content as the first media server. Thus, theresponse from the media service controller could indicate that there isno opportunity to provide the media content to the mobile station fromanother media server. In that situation, the first media server maycontinue providing the media content to the mobile station via theunicast connection of the second base station. However, the first mediaserver may query the content discovery service of the media servicecontroller to determine what other media content is available from thesecond media server and then make those options known to the mobilestation.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the mobile station is joined tothe stream from the second media server that is being transmitted viathe multicast connection of the second base station, i.e., joined to thestream identified in block 312 of FIG. 4. The joining process may beginwhen the first media server sends a join request to the media servicecontroller requesting that the mobile station be joined to the stream,as indicated by block 314. The join request may include: (i) the UUIDprovided by the media service controller; (ii) an identification of themobile station; and (iii) an indication of the first media server'scurrent position in the stream being provided to the mobile station. Thejoin request may also include other information, such as the buffer sizeand current buffer capacity of the media client in the mobile stationand the first media terminal's ability to provide a synchronizationstream to make up for any content gap that may arise from switching tothe second media server.

In response to the join request, the media service controller determineswhether the mobile station can be joined to the stream, as indicated byblock 316. To make this determination, the media service controller maydetermine the mobile station's device capabilities to determine whetherthe mobile station is capable of accepting the multicast connection. Forexample, the media service controller may query a device capabilitiesdatabase. Alternatively, if the mobile station is using IEEE 802.16 tocommunicate with the second base station, then Station BasicCapabilities (SBC) information may have been passed to the ASN-GW duringconnection establishment. Thus, the media service controller may be ableto query the ASN-GW to determine the mobile station's capabilities.

The media service controller may also consider the positions of thefirst media server and the second media server in their respectivestreams. If the second media server is ahead, then the media servicecontroller may determine whether the first media server will be able toprovide a synchronization stream to male up for the resulting contentgap.

If the mobile station can be joined to the second media server's stream,the media service controller sends an acceptance message to the firstmedia server, as indicated by block 318. The media service controlleralso sends the second base station a join instruction that instructs thesecond base station to join the mobile station to the stream, asindicated by block 320. The join instruction may identify the stream,the mobile station, and the multicast connection.

In response to the join instruction, the second base station migratesthe mobile station from the unicast connection to the multicastconnection, as indicated by block 322. The second base station maychange the mobile station's connectivity in the manner described abovefor FIG. 3. In particular, the second base station may use packet headersuppression (PHS) so that the packets from the second media serverappear to originate from the first media server.

At some point after receiving the acceptance message, the first mediaserver stops sending the media content to the mobile station, asindicated by block 324. If the mobile station detects a content gap, themobile station sends a retransmission request to the first media server,as indicated by block 326. In response, the first media server sends asynchronization stream that makes up for the content gap, which themobile station receives via a unicast connection of the second basestation, as indicated by block 328.

In this way, the source of the media content being received by themobile station may be changed from the first media server to the secondmedia server. However, the change may be made “transparent” to themobile station by applying a PHS rule to the packets from the secondmedia server. In addition, even after receiving the media content fromthe second media server, the mobile station may still communicate withthe first media server in order to change the provision of mediacontent.

For example, the mobile station may depart from the stream provided bythe second media server, by sending an RTSP TEARDOWN request to thefirst media server. The first media server would then communicate withthe media service controller, and the media service controller would, inturn, instruct the second base station to remove the mobile station fromthe multicast connection.

As another example, the mobile station may request different mediacontent (i.e., change the media channel that it is receiving) by sendingan RTSP PLAY request to the first media server. The first media serverwould then communicate this request to the media service controller. Ifthe requested media content is available from the second media server,the media service controller may instruct the second base station tomigrate the mobile station to a different multicast connection toreceive the media content. If the requested media content is notavailable from the second media server, the media service controller mayinstruct the second base station to migrate the mobile station to aunicast connection to allow the mobile station to receive the mediacontent from the first media server.

5. Conclusion

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changesand modifications may be made to these embodiments without departingfrom the true scope and spirit of the invention, which is defined by theclaims.

1. A method comprising: a base station receiving first packetscontaining media content, said first packets comprising first packetheaders and first packet payloads, said first packet headers including afirst source address and a first destination address, said first sourceaddress corresponding to a first media server, said first destinationaddress corresponding to a mobile station; said base station using afirst packet classifier to map said first packets to a unicastconnection; said base station transmitting said media content to saidmobile station via said unicast connection; said base station receivingsecond packets containing said media content, said second packetscomprising second packet headers and second packet payloads, said secondpacket headers including a second source address and a seconddestination address, said second source address corresponding to asecond media server; said base station using a second packet classifierto map said second packets to a multicast connection; said base stationreceiving an instruction from a media service controller; and inresponse to said instruction: (a) said base station establishing apacket header suppression rule with said mobile station, wherein saidpacket header suppression rule associates a packet header suppressionindex with said first source address and said first destination address;and (b) said base station associating said packet header suppressionrule with said second packet classifier.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: said base station generating header-suppressedpackets by replacing said second packet headers in said second packetswith said packet header suppression index; and said base stationtransmitting said header-suppressed packets to said mobile station viasaid multicast connection.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said mediacontent comprises at least one of audio content and video content. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein said instruction indicates that saidmobile station should be joined to said multicast connection.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said instruction indicates that said secondmedia server is a preferred source of said media content.